Rock band brings diverse sounds to Tupelo

Math has its place everywhere, even rock ‘n’ roll. The guys in math rock band Deviator know all about that.
The Missouri/Kansas-based band has picked up where bands like Rush and Pink Floyd left off.
“We call (our sound) a number of things,” said bassist and vocalist Travis Kirschner. “Jazz rock sometimes gets mentioned, but sometimes I tell people it’s too jazzy for the rock guys but too rock for the jazz guys. There’s a lot of ups and downs in our music – there’ll be a lot of heavier, weird music immediately followed by lush (sounds), with Pink Floyd-like valleys. Jazz rock, acid rock – I think that covers the duality.”
Kirschner and his bandmates, guitarist Troy Coots and drummer Dereck Dew, love to experiment with all styles of rock. The trio will perform in Tupelo on Saturday and will bring plenty of their sound’s loud, dramatic mountains and quieter, lush valleys.
“People get cranked up by the mountains, because they’re not everywhere – they’re in certain spots,” he said.
On stage is where Deviator lets loose.
“It’s kind of one of those, plug in, make sure the equipment’s all right, and it’s go time,” he said. “It’s where we have a real commonality with a band like The Police, who was all energy on stage. They were like Pink Floyd set to punk rock tempos.”
Deviator is half-way finished recording its fourth album.
All three of the group’s previous releases will be for sale at the show.
“There’s a lot more open improvisation” on the new CD, he said.
Audiences can expect a bit of everything at the band’s show in Tupelo, all turned up to 11.
“”With five- and six-man bands, you have to worry about the amount of space on stage, but I’m kinda lively,” Kirschner said. “We have a drummer who’s all over the place, and a guitar player who plays big, spacious chords. We’re energetic.”
sheena.barnett@journalinc.com